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The Hollywood Reporter.
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The Emmy-winning co-creator of 'Friends' opens up about the sitcom's real-life inspirations, why she and David Crane creatively split and she avoided TV for 11 years and why she finally returned not with another multi-camera broadcast show about young people but with a single-cam streaming show about older women.

Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg Produced by Matthew Whitehurst Recorded by Ryan Gabos

254 episodes available.
A new episode about every
6 days
averaging 80 mins duration
.

The biggest female movie star of the last 30 years, "America's Sweetheart" herself, reflects on pre-stardom life and loss, how she wound up in 'Pretty Woman' and becoming the queen of rom-coms and what it's like to now be playing a mom (she's getting some of the best notices of her career for her turn as a mother trying to help her drug-addicte ...…

An actors’ actor who is just 33, but already has more than a decade of acclaimed stage and screen work under her belt, on breaking out of period pieces, overcoming fears and her latest role, in which she gives, in the view of the New York Times' film critic, "the best performance of any I’ve seen in film this year." But first: Roger Ross Willia ...…

One of the most multi-talented stars in showbiz history — an Australian man of Hollywood films and Broadway theater who is the living embodiment of "the triple threat" — reflects on his dark childhood, the unlikely series of events that led to him coming to America to play Wolverine (no actor has played the same superhero in as many films or ov ...…

The small, scrappy, tough-as-nails New York filmmaker behind classics such as 'She's Gotta Have It,' 'Do the Right Thing' and 'Malcolm X' reflects upon the challenges of making indie films over the last 32 years, the impact of and controversies surrounding his work and what he makes of Hollywood and America's fraught relationship with race in t ...…

One of the most prolific and admired sitcom directors in TV history — and the go-to guy for pilots — reflects on how Mary Tyler Moore helped him to break into the biz, what he learned from the 15 years he divided between 'Taxi' and 'Cheers' (he co-created the latter) and how he propelled NBC's 'Must See TV' era with 'Frasier,' 'Friends' and 'Wi ...…

The ‘12 Years a Slave’ director and producer (the first black producer ever to win a best picture Oscar) opens up about how his work in art led to his career in film, his close collaborations with Michael Fassbender and why he followed his big Oscar night with an elevated heist flick he has been mulling for 35 years. But first: Matthew Heineman ...…

One of the greatest basketball players of all time reflects on his career on the hardwood, transitioning into retirement and using his profile to call attention to socially-significant films. But first: Gabe Polsky, the director of the new documentary ‘In Search of Greatness,’ joins Scott to discuss his quest to determine what separates the gre ...…

One of the most popular singer/songwriters of all-time — a woman who The Guardian described as “the biggest star country music has ever produced,” and who has crossed back and forth, for more than 40 years, between country and pop, while also starring in movies and on TV — discusses her Appalachian roots and road to Nashville, the backstories o ...…

One of today's few true movie stars — people buy tickets to see a movie because she's in it — opens up about the source of her early self-esteem and confidence; the crazy way she wound up performing standup and then improv; why she was planning to quit showbiz just before she landed 'Gilmore Girls'; how the blockbuster success of 'Bridesmaids' ...…

One of Hollywood's most versatile actors opens up about his discovery of improv en route to 'The Daily Show,' how a small part in 'Anchorman' led to a star-making role in 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' which, in turn, saved the fledgling 'The Office,' and why he ventured into darker material with 'Foxcatcher,' for which he received an Oscar nom, and ...…

The three-time BAFTA winner, Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee who has received massive acclaim for her portrayal of one queen in Yorgos Lanthimos' new dramedy — and who is now stepping into the role of another one on Netflix's 'The Crown' — reflects on her beginnings in comedy, how the British indie film 'Tyrannosaur' and TV series 'Broadch ...…

One of Hollywood's most colorful characters — he has morphed from bit player to leading man to matinee idol to Oscar winner over the last 25 years — shares the backstories of "Alright, alright, alright," his big break, his rom-com/shirtless era and one of Hollywood's most remarkable career-reboots, 'the McConnaisance.' Credits: Hosted by Scott ...…

The living legend, one of only 21 EGOTs, opens up about falling in love with music, being black in Hollywood, talent cultivation (Michael Jackson, most famously) and discovery (from Oprah to Will Smith) and what he thinks of music and America today. But first: Al Hicks and Rashida Jones, the co-directors of the acclaimed new Netflix doc 'Quincy ...…

The twice Oscar-nominated British actress, who has been on Hollywood’s A-list for the last 15 years, opens up about how acting helped her to overcome dyslexia, how sudden celebrity caused her to have a breakdown and why she has always been drawn to — and done much of her best work in — period pieces. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded ...…

The English Oxford alum turned Bond girl turned best actress Oscar nominee opens up about breaking out of early typecasting with 'An Education,' playing her first leading film role in 'Gone Girl' and, in perhaps her most challenging assignment yet, portraying war correspondent Marie Colvin in Matt Heineman's new film. But first: Matt Belloni, T ...…

The living legend of stage and screen — who is the most Oscar-nominated living performer without a win, at 0-for-6 — talks about growing up in a cult, her later-than-usual film debut and how she made up for lost time, aging in Hollywood (she went to TV and back to Broadway) and the performance that has made her, at 71, the best actress contende ...…

The star of Marvel's first film to center on a black superhero shares why Phylicia Rashad and Denzel Washington are responsible for his shift from writer/director to actor, how he weighed the honor of playing black icons against the fear of being typecast and what he makes of Wakanda's cultural significance during the Trump era and the Academy' ...…

Emmy-nominated for both Ryan Murphy's 'Glee,' in 2015, and now for an FX limited series in which he played serial killer Andrew Cunanan, the Filipino-American discusses 'passing' as white, pre-'Glee' life (he made a living playing piano at Maggiano's) and the tricky terrain of being a straight actor who has made his name playing LGBTQ parts. Bu ...…

The world's most recognizable living scientist, who is to behavioral sciences what Albert Einstein is to physics, reflects on 58 years of studying chimpanzees in Gombe, encountering sexual demands and objectification in the workplace, turning unexpected fame into a tool for activism and being the subject of dozens of documentaries, the best of ...…

One of the most significant and beloved figures in TV history, best known for her groundbreaking variety sketch program 'The Carol Burnett Show' (1967-1978), reflects, at the age of 85, on the Cinderella story that led her to showbiz, doing things that other women hadn't done before and her and her show's impact more than a half-century after i ...…

The TV icon best known for 'Cheers' reflects on his unlikely casting on that NBC classic, the struggles that followed its 11-season run and how roles on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and 'Damages' rebooted his career and prepared him to play the character for which he is nominated for an Emmy. But first: Pamela McClintock, a senior film writer and box ...…

The stage and screen veteran reflects on why she was so averse to doing a soap opera or a sitcom before making her name on 'One Life to Live' and 'Who’s the Boss?,' and what she's learned since returning to the theater (she's one of only six performers to win Tonys in back-to-back years) and TV (she's landed Emmy noms for 'Ugly Betty,' 'Transpa ...…

Nominated for the best actor in a drama series Emmy for the second year in a row, the 41-year-old reflects on his journey to acting, almost quitting the biz after his stints on ‘Gilmore Girls’ and ‘Heroes’ ended and how he wound up playing everyone’s favorite TV dad of the Peak TV era. But first: Kevin Cassidy, THR’s international news editor, ...…

One of the most popular entertainers ever to emerge from Puerto Rico — a two-time Grammy-winning singer, a dancer and now an Emmy-nominated actor — reflects on growing up with Menudo, his 'Livin' La Vida Loca' era and the personal and professional rebirth he has experienced since coming out as gay in 2010. But first: Rebecca Ford, THR's awards ...…

One of the last male stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age — the top one at Warner Bros. from 1955 through 1959 — died on Sunday at the age of 86. In this 2015 interview, he spoke about what it was like making movies — and being gay — in the fifties, what happened after his star faded and how he hoped to be remembered. But first: Andy Lewis, THR's bo ...…

One of the most significant figures in the history of the music industry looks back on his rise from studio sweeper to engineer (for John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen) to producer (for Tom Petty and U2) to label founder and chief (Interscope, which made hip hop and gangsta rap mainstream), and his unlikely friendship with Dr. Dre, with whom he ...…

The comedy actor who became famous as Joey Tribbiani on NBC’s 'Friends' dishes on the strange series of events that led him from blue-collar work to acting; why, after the failure of 'Joey' and five years out of the biz, he returned to series TV on Showtime; and how he feels about the prospect of a 'Friends' reboot — and retirement. But first: ...…

The jovial host of late night's most iconic program reflects on his journey from doing childhood impersonations to appearing on 'SNL,' how Lorne Michaels recruited him to 'Late Night' (despite opposition from network suits) and then Johnny Carson's old job and, in an emotional exchange, how his infamous 2016 interview with Donald Trump has — an ...…

The two-time Emmy winner reflects on child stardom (she burst onto the scene at 14 on 'My So-Called Life'), embarking on a film career (but passing on 'Schindler's List' and 'Titanic') and returning to the small screen and experiencing career rebirth through the TV movie 'Temple Grandin,' followed by seven seasons playing a bipolar CIA officer. ...…

The legendary singer, songwriter, actress, writer, producer and director opens up about her odds-defying career ("I didn’t want to be a singer"), why she fights for creative control over her work ("I am not a diva") and what convinced her to embark on a rare concert tour that was later turned into a Netflix variety special — even though, as she ...…

One of the few people who has played multiple iconic TV characters reflects on child stardom as a Mouseketeer, becoming "America's Sweetheart" at 21 on 'Felicity' and then, after almost quitting the biz, re-emerging as a Soviet spy for six seasons on one of the best shows of the Peak TV era. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded and produ ...…

One of the reigning kings of comedy — a standup, writer, producer and director who has been a driving force behind many of the funniest TV series and films of the last 30 years — reflects on the roots of his sense of humor, his decision to move from doing standup to writing to producing/directing and his epic documentary-tribute to one of his m ...…

One of the most talented comedy performers in the business looks back on his childhood at Nickelodeon ('All That' and 'Kenan & Kel'), losing his identity thereafter and then finding a new home in Studio 8H (where he is in his 15th season, making him the longest-tenured performer in the variety show’s history). Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, ...…

The star of TV’s highest-rated new network drama, whose portrayal of an autistic surgeon has already brought him a Golden Globe nom, looks back on child stardom, re-emerging as an adult on the drama series 'Bates Motel' (he received Critics' Choice noms for three of its five seasons) and then heading right into another, very different show. But ...…

The actress-producer discusses how she wound up on '7th Heaven' at 14 (it became TV's longest-running family drama ever), growing up in the biz, making an eclectic mix of films and returning to TV in a limited series she also produced, which became 2017's most-watched new basic-cable show, and for which she received Golden Globe and Critics' Ch ...…

One of the most likable — and reliably good — actors in the business reflects on his child stardom, how he then experienced a dark decade before re-emerging as the industry’s go-to straight man in comedies and why it means so much to him to now be able to juggle acting and directing. But first: Booth Moore, THR’s Style & Fashion News Director, ...…

The British actress, best known for playing Daenerys on TV's most acclaimed show, opens up about striking gold with and learning to navigate her first professional role, why she's sick of talking about her nude scenes, what led her to turn down 'Fifty Shades of Grey' but do 'Solo: A Star Wars Story,' plus more. But first: Stephen Galloway, THR' ...…

The first woman ever to host a late-night satire show reflects on her 12 years at Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show' (she was the longest-serving and first female correspondent), betting on herself by leaving that job for a show of her own at TBS (which won an Emmy in 2017) and what it's like making that show in the fast-changing and mind-blowin ...…

This powerhouse writer (the first black woman ever to win a comedy writing Emmy), actress ('Master of None' and 'Ready Player One') and creator/producer (Showtime's new series about Chicago's South Side) — who recently appeared on Vanity Fair's cover and was named by Time as one of the world's 100 most influential people — reflects on her upbri ...…

The six-time Emmy nominee and two-time Critics' Choice Award winner reflects on why her agents fired her after she agreed to play Joan, how she feels about all the attention paid to her figure and why she decided to follow a period drama with a contemporary network dramedy. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded and produced by Matthew Whi ...…

The TV icon opens up about his debilitating dyslexia, overcoming it to land the part of 'The Fonz' on 'Happy Days' (and 'jumping the shark') and following 'Arrested Development' and 'Parks and Rec' with standout work on Bill Hader's new HBO dramedy. But first: David Rooney, THR's chief theatre critic, joins Scott to discuss the two-part shows t ...…

The Golden Globe-nominated British beauty reflects on making her name in period pieces (and on 'Black Mirror'), playing one character in several projects over many years (Agent Peggy Carter of 'Captain America' fame) and the new project for which she's receiving the best reviews of her screen career (a four-part adaptation of E.M. Forster's mos ...…

The model-turned-actress reflects on her big break ('Breaking Bad'), first starring role ('Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23') and experience playing a complex Marvel superhero on a Peabody Award-winning TV show that began exploring sexual misconduct and its impact on victims long before the Harvey Weinstein exposés. But first: Daniel Fienberg, THR' ...…

The comic, podcast host and character actor reflects on the complex youth that led him to comedy; his rollercoaster career (he once contemplated suicide in the same garage to which a president later trekked to see him); and the Critics’ Choice and SAG award noms accorded his first major acting gig in which he's not playing a version of himself. ...…

The creator, showrunner, producer, writer, director and Golden Globe-nominated star of Showtime's acclaimed new comedy series, which was largely inspired by the drama of her own experience as a young single mom, reflects on her blue-collar upbringing, accidental pregnancy at 24, move to Hollywood 11 weeks into it and years of personal and profe ...…

One of the most colorful characters in Hollywood history — he wrote, directed, produced and starred in what has been called "the 'Citizen Kane' of bad movies," which inspired 'The Disaster Artist' — opens up as never before about his life and work. But first: Matt Belloni, THR's editorial director, joins Scott to recap and dissect Sunday night' ...…

The veteran character actor looks back on years of side-jobs and failed auditions, learning to make the most of parts of any size and landing the role of a lifetime — for which he is now favored to win the best supporting actor Oscar — in Martin McDonagh’s acclaimed dramedy. But first: Carolyn Giardina, THR’s tech editor, joins Scott to dissect ...…

Best known for his work as a director (he was half of the Merchant-Ivory team famous for its high-production-value literary adaptations), but poised to win his first Oscar for a screenplay (at 89, he'd be the oldest winner ever), he reflects on his late partner Ismail Merchant, his love of Italy and his two movies — 30 years apart — about young ...…

One of the most recognizable and admired big screen character actors of the last 30 years reflects on decades of juggling experimental theater and films, his unconventional face and why he so often lands in edgy projects like the one for which he recently received his third Oscar nom. But first: Adam Irving, a filmmaker who received a best firs ...…

The youngest best actor Oscar nominee in 78 years — who is just 22 — reflects on the importance of his public school arts education, his early work on TV ('Homeland') and in films ('Interstellar') and the making — and crazy aftermath — of three massively acclaimed films released in 2017. But first: Roger Durling, the executive director of the S ...…

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